April 13, on this day, thirty-five years ago, in Boulder, “in preparation for this summer’s Great ON THE ROAD festival” (the twenty-five year celebration of Kerouac’s great enduring masterpiece) – “One and only time! Never before done and probably never after! An historic occasion!” – (Allen beats the drums!) – “The Beat Generation – A Literary History (1953-1957)”, an eight-week course taught by Ginsberg, featuring himself, (Gregory) Corso, (William) Burroughs, … Read More

AG: The ABC of Reading from Ezra Pound – yeah how many know that? I recommend taking a look at that or buying it, or reading it. It’s a litttle anthology, like a teaching anthology, to hit high points and special effects in .. you know, Mike? (sic) have you read it?

Student (Mike): Yes

AG: When?

Student (Mike): In the summer, the past summer..

AG: (We’re) talking about Ezra Pound’s ABC of Reading. It’s a book I’ve come back to over and over again for clear ideas and suggestions in how to write, how to think about writing. I … Read More

AG: Yeah, well I want to get on to “The Triumph of Charis” – Charis? – Charis. Do you know what that is? It’s a play, originally, I imagine, from a play, or a longer poem but I think a play Do you know anything about that, the origin of that, Stanley? (sic)

AG: I guess it’s nine-thirty. So we’ll go on to Ben Jonson next. And I think I gave you what I suggested from Jonson was.. two.. do you still have that page?.. two-fifty-two – (the poem) on his first son – “On My First Son” (“Farewell, thou child of my right hand, and joy..”) – (then) – two fifty-six, Salomon Pavey – “An Epitaph on S.P.” (“Weep with me, all you that read/This little story”) – (and) – Little L.H. – “Epitaph on Elizabeth, L.H.” (“Wouldst thou hear what man can say..”) – … Read More

AG: Well, I don’t know. What happened to the “of”? – [”That She, dear She might take some pleasure/Of my pain”] – “of my pain”, “pleasure of my pain” – That’s one of the problems of the transcription. So we’ll substitute the “That” for the “Of”, we’ve still got six

AG: (Sir Philip) Sidney’s Sonnets are pretty funny. Number one, particularly – 176 – a couple of pages later – Remember Anne (Waldman) the other day read, in her reading, she read a sonnet that was.. “My love is like my love and she’s like me, and her heart heart like mine, and mine…” [Editorial note – “Two Hearts – After Sir Philip Sidney”‘ – (“She’s got my heart and I’ve got hers..”‘)]…(which) was an imitation of Astrophel and Stella, and probably the first..